POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (November 12, 2016) – The Vassar College men's swimming and diving team fought hard Saturday in the dual meet against the Engineers of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. RPI ultimately prevailed 188-105 in action from Kresge Pool.
 
The Brewers started strong, with a third-place finish in the 400 medley relay. Chris Cerutti, Jonah Strand, Anthony Walker, and Ian LaBash combined for a time of 3:43.45. Cerutti added a 59.82 100 backstroke to his day, good for third place in today's meet. In the 200 backstroke, Cerutti again took third, with a time of 2:07.15.
 
Strand had a stand out day, untouchable in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke (59.49 and 2:12.53, respectively). The junior added 29 points on the day for the Brewers.
 
"We put our best foot forward, we won a lot of events, a lot of individual bests so that was really good," said Strand. "Ultimately, we didn't get as many points today but we had a great meet."
 
Anthony Walker swam a notable first place for the 200 butterfly, with time of 1:58.73, four seconds shy of his school record (1:54.33). He also ran away with the 100 fly (53.52). He came out on top in a grueling battle for the 200 IM, finishing with a 2:02.13, just .07 faster than RPI's Eric Xu. Altogether, Walker brought home three first place finishes and one third place in today's contest.
 
Lukas Harries took third in the 50 free (23.01), less than a second shy of RPI's leader. Freshman Diver Michael Deiner scored 178 in the 3-meter competition, a personal best. In the 1-meter diving event, both Deiner and junior Connor Martin earned personal bests. Deiner chalked up a 187.3, while Martin earned 155.7 points on the day.
 
LaBash also scored in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:55.33, while Harrison Taylor chalked up two points in the 200 fly with a  time of 2:15.93. Harries was also a point earner in the 100 free after marking a 52.99, while Patrick Lai was fourth in the 200 breast after swimming a time of 2:24.38.
 
Junior Luke Morrison chalked up four points in the 200 IM with a time of 2:12.03, while Lai earned three more points for VC with a 2:20.64 in the 200 IM. Vassar's 200 meter relay "A" squad chalked up 11 points after finishing in 1:33.82.
 
"We were happy with what happened, we know RPI is a strong team," said head coach Lisl Prater-Lee. "Across the board, we had some people put together some really good races, we have three weeks until Liberty Leagues and that's what they were tasked with."
 
The Brewers return to the water at the US Merchant Marine Academy Memorial Invitational next Saturday, November 19, at 11 am in Kings Point, NY.